Three million sold around the world in 80 days, or one every 2.3 seconds
Here’s a nice piece of news for Apple (AAPL) to lay on the tech press two days before the launch of its next whizzy gizmo: rather than slowing down, as some analysts had predicted, sales of the iPad have actually sped up.
It took 28 days for Apple to sell its first million iPads, 31 days to sell the second million, and 21 days to sell the third.
“People are loving iPad as it becomes a part of their daily lives,” said Steve Jobs in a prepared statement. “We’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more people around the world, including those in nine more countries next month.”
The 3 millionth iPad was sold on Monday, according to the press release.
Apple is clearly benefiting from its overseas markets. The first million iPads were purchased in the U.S. Apple announced the sale of the second million three days after it began selling the device in nine more countries. It took buyers in a total 10 countries to push the iPad past the 3 million mark.
Apple hasn’t said when in July it will extend its iPad marketing effort to the next 9 countries.
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[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]